The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A lonely pre-teen relies on an imaginary friend to fill the empty hours. When she moves to a new town, 11-year-old Bree faces a summer without friends, so she revives Joey, her imaginary friend from first grade. Joey’s always there when Bree needs her, ready to play Nancy Drew or Witches or swing in the playground. Worried she’s too old for imaginary playmates, Bree’s parents tell her to forget Joey. But Bree and her alter ego remain best buddies until 13-year-old Cassie unexpectedly arrives in the neighborhood from her private school to spend the summer with her grandmother. Unpredictable and somewhat mysterious, Cassie soon lures Bree into the unexpected by cutting and highlighting her waist-long hair. Bree, as well as her older brother, Reid, are drawn to the attractive, reckless Cassie, who has a way of getting them into trouble. As Bree discovers more about Cassie, she realizes everyone needs a real friend. Readers will want to find out what happens to the imaginary Joey and the very human Cassie in this engaging exploration of friendship. (Fiction. 9-12)

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